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A Love Is Blind contestant has filed a lawsuit claiming she was sexually assaulted on set by her former fiancé.
Within the unique lawsuit — filed in Aug. 2022, however solely simply revealed by Individuals — Tran Dang stated Thomas Smith sexually assaulted her whereas the 2 have been filming Season 5 of Love Is Blind (which is presently airing). Over the course of the season, Dang and Thomas bought engaged, however haven’t featured in any of the episodes which have aired to this point. Together with Smith, the go well with named as defendants Love is Blind manufacturing firm Kinetic Content material, in addition to Delirium TV, one other manufacturing firm that labored on the present.
Within the go well with, Dang alleges that Smith assaulted her on Might 3, 2022, whereas filming the Mexico trip portion of the sequence. The criticism claims that Smith “forcefully and with out (Dang’s) consent” groped her, “uncovered himself,” and “forcefully and repeatedly made sexual contact… over her categorical objections.”
The lawsuit goes on to allege that, due to the “24-hour surveillance” that is a part of filming Love Is Blind, “most if not all of those traumatic acts have been filmed by the manufacturing crew and inside their information.” Dang additionally stated she reported Smith’s conduct to Kinetic and Delirium the next morning and advised them she was “uncomfortable being round Smith.”
In response, Dang alleges, the producers “made makes an attempt to masks the Plaintiff’s sexual assault by characterizing it as an absence of attraction on the a part of the Plaintiff.” When Dang “insisted an assault passed off,” she claims the producers “questioned whether or not the issue was actually one in every of communication and swept apart her issues.”
In a press release shared with Rolling Stone, Kinetic Content material and Delirium TV stated, “We assist and stand with victims of sexual assault, however Ms. Dang’s claims in opposition to the producers are meritless. We doc the unbiased decisions of adults who volunteer to take part in a social experiment. Their journey shouldn’t be scripted, neither is it filmed across the clock. We have now no information or management over what happens in non-public dwelling areas when not filming, and members could select to finish their journey at any time.”
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The businesses additionally claimed that Dang “by no means knowledgeable the producers of any alleged wrongdoing of any sort. Nor did she select to finish her participation within the experiment. As an alternative, Ms. Dang continued within the experiment for weeks after the time her legal professionals now declare an incident occurred. We deny and can vigorously defend the allegations in opposition to us.”
Attorneys for Smith didn’t instantly return Rolling Stone’s request for remark, though they did inform Those that they don’t touch upon ongoing litigation.
Whereas it has been over a 12 months since Dang filed her unique lawsuit, the case has but to go to trial. As an alternative, the defendants have challenged the lawsuit on numerous authorized grounds, and stored the case slowed down with appeals.
In a press release, Dang’s lawyer, Ben Allen stated, “The producers are throwing cash on the downside by spending an inordinate sum of money on dropping authorized positions that may do nothing however delay the events from having their day in Court docket. They misplaced on three distinct authorized points earlier than the trial courtroom after which filed three separate appeals to multiply the proceedings now we have to wade via earlier than lastly attempting this case. However we’re assured that Ms. Dang’s place will probably be vindicated as soon as we get there and are dedicated to seeing it via all the best way. We have now to carry the present producers accountable. We have now an moral responsibility to our shopper to take action, but in addition really feel an ethical obligation to the following era of actuality present members.”
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Information of Dang’s lawsuit and allegations come as Love Is Blind has confronted elevated scrutiny. Final 12 months, former solid member Jeremy Hartwell sued Netflix and Kinetic over accusations of “inhumane working situations” and poor wages for a grueling schedule. Earlier this 12 months, different contestants shared comparable claims with Insider, together with Season Two solid member Danielle Ruhl, who stated producers pushed her to stay on the present, even when she had a panic assault, expressed concern that filming was exacerbating her nervousness, and advised producers she was having suicidal ideas.
In a latest interview with Selection, Kinetic CEO and Love Is Blind creator Chris Coelen defended the present in opposition to the allegations of poor working situations. He additionally rebuffed Ruhl’s declare, saying she “did not inform the manufacturing staff that she was having any ideas of self-harm,” including: “If she had, we would not have continued to movie together with her. She by no means requested anybody in manufacturing ever to go away the present. She was free to go away the experiment at any time, as many members have up to now.”
Contestant Claims She Was Sexually Assaulted on Set – Rolling Stone
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